Ride 'Levels' Explained

ROAD RIDES

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Road: C
All C rides are no-drop rides. This is the ride for anyone who rides at a casual pace or is new to group riding. The pace and the setting are friendly, and there is usually one or more experienced riders to give you some pointers along the way. You will not be left on your own. Average speed for this group is around 21-23 km/h.
 

Road: B

All B rides are no-drop rides and get progressively faster as the numbers suggest (B1 is fastest, B3 is slowest). All B and C rides regroup after hills and sprints, and no rider is left behind. B1 tends to use a rotating paceline (if you don't know what this is, best to start in the C ride). B2 and B3 tend to ride in a two-up formation. 

Average speed for B3 ~24-26 km/h

Average speed for B2 ~25-27 km/h

Average speed for B1 ~28-32 km/h

 

*Group speeds ebb and flow with the seasons: summer rides are faster than winter rides*
 

Road: A

All A rides are drop rides (no waiting, almost race-like). The A1 ride is a consistently hard pace, and a solid training ride for club members who want to race or just beat everyone recreationally. 

Average speed for A1 rides ~36-40 km/h
 

The A2 ride is slightly slower overall than A1, and more of a cooperative "hard group workout" than a race.

Average speed for A2 ~34-37 km/h
 

GRAVEL RIDES

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Gravel: C
This is the ride for folks new to gravel riding. No experience required, just a gravel or cyclocross bike with knobby tires and a sense of adventure. The pace and the setting are friendly, and the more experienced riders will happily give you some pointers along the way. 
 

Gravel: B and A

As the letters trend toward A, both the pace and the terrain difficulty increase. All gravel rides finish at approximately 7:30, with the route variable and chosen by whoever volunteers to lead each ride. Weekend gravel rides generally feature more diverse terrain, with duration around 2.5 to 3 hours. All gravel rides are no-drop.

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*A note on gravel ride meet-up locations

Gravel rides have two meeting spots: Oak Bay High school and Switch Bridge on the Galloping Goose. The OBH rides are more "urban" and feature primarily pavement and fun urban connector paths. SB rides usually hit more "wild" favourites like Thetis Lake, Royal Roads and Elk/Beaver Lake.